October 6, 2016

1974: Vikings Thwart Dallas Rally with Last-Second Field Goal

Two perennial contenders, the Minnesota Vikings and
Dallas Cowboys, faced off on October 6, 1974, but the teams were in very
different places as they headed into the fourth week of the NFL season. The
Vikings, coached by Bud Grant for the eighth year, were the defending NFC
Champions and off to a 3-0 start. Dallas had been to the playoffs in each of
the previous eight years under Head Coach Tom Landry, but was 1-2 and had
scored only 16 points combined in the previous two games.

There were 57,847 fans in attendance at Texas Stadium, and
the Cowboys struck first four minutes into the contest with a big play when QB Roger
Staubach threw to WR Golden Richards for a 58-yard touchdown. Efren Herrera
added the extra point for the early 7-0 lead. Before the opening period was
over, the Vikings narrowed the margin to 7-3 with a 48-yard Fred Cox field goal.

Early in the second quarter, the Cowboys reached the
Minnesota 38 but a Staubach pass was intercepted by LB Amos Martin. Three plays
later, QB Fran Tarkenton (pictured at top) threw down the middle to FB Chuck Foreman, who was
isolated on LB D.D. Lewis, and it was complete for a 66-yard TD. Cox added the
point after and the visitors were in front by 10-7.

Minnesota continued to thwart the Cowboys, and Staubach,
whose slump had contributed to the club’s offensive woes, was the principal
victim. He was picked off a second time, by CB Nate Wright at the Dallas 21,
but while the Vikings got more points, they were forced to settle for a 30-yard
Cox field goal and took a 13-7 lead into halftime.

In the third quarter, Wright intercepted Staubach again, on
this occasion grabbing the ball away from WR Drew Pearson at the Minnesota 36.
The Vikings advanced 64 yards in eight plays, the last a toss to Foreman (pictured at left), who
made a leaping grab over Lewis in the end zone for a 13-yard touchdown. Cox’s
point after gave Minnesota an extended lead of 20-7.

A fourth interception of a Staubach pass, this time by DB
Terry Brown at the Dallas 31, had the restless home crowd booing. However, the
defense pushed the Vikings back and the tide began to turn in the fourth
quarter. The Cowboys put together a 39-yard drive featuring a Staubach
completion to HB Calvin Hill for 22 yards and two runs by Hill for six yards
apiece. The series culminated in Staubach throwing to FB Walt Garrison for a
five yard touchdown and Herrera’s kick narrowed the score to 20-14.

With 8:26 left in regulation, a poor punt by Minnesota’s Mike
Eischeid traveled only 11 yards and gave the Cowboys the ball at their 40. Dallas
took advantage, driving 60 yards in eight plays. At one point, Hill fumbled on
a third-and-three play at the Minnesota 22 but the Cowboys still ended up with
five yards and a first down when WR Bob Hayes recovered. Three plays later, Hill
ran for an eight-year touchdown and, with Herrera adding the extra point, the
Cowboys were ahead by 21-20 with 2:26 remaining to play.

In response, the Vikings advanced 68 yards, with
Tarkenton connecting with RB Ed Marinaro for a key first down. The breaks now began
to go Minnesota’s way again. First, Tarkenton appeared to fumble when hit by CB
Benny Barnes on a blitz, but the officials ruled that the play was dead before
the quarterback lost the ball. Then,
passing in a third-and-12 situation, Foreman gained 17 yards but fumbled, still
managing to recover amid a crowd of defenders.Tarkenton followed up with another throw to Marinaro for 20 yards and that
set up a 27-yard Fred Cox field goal attempt with one second left on the clock.
While the officials were slow to signal as the kick passed near the right
upright, it was successful. The Cowboys disputed the call but Minnesota was the
winner by a final score of 23-21.

The Vikings led in total yards (376 to 273) and first downs
(18 to 16). Dallas outrushed Minnesota (144 to 111) but the Vikings had far
more net passing yards (265 to 129) and the Cowboys turned the ball over four
times, all on interceptions, to none by Minnesota.

Fran Tarkenton completed 17 of 27 passes for 283 yards
and two touchdowns with no interceptions. Chuck Foreman accumulated 203 yards
from scrimmage, gaining 72 yards on 23 rushing attempts and 121 on five pass
receptions that included two TDs.

For the Cowboys, Roger Staubach had a rough performance as
he succeeded on just 9 of 20 throws for 144 yards and two TDs, giving up four
interceptions. Calvin Hill (pictured at right) ran for 95 yards and a TD on 21 carries and was one
of three Dallas players with a team-leading two pass receptions. Golden
Richards, with his one long scoring catch at the beginning of the game, led the
club with 58 receiving yards.

“Tarkenton is a gifted quarterback,” said Coach Tom
Landry in defeat. “He’s been playing this game for 15 years and he has picked
up a lot of knowledge.”

Minnesota reached 5-0 before losing two straight, but
breezed to the NFC Central title with a 10-4 record. The Vikings again won the
conference championship but lost to Pittsburgh in the Super Bowl. The Cowboys
dropped to 1-4 the following week before reeling off four straight wins and
seven in their last nine games, and they managed to lead the NFL in total yards
(4983). The poor start doomed them, however, as they finished at 8-6 and third
in the NFC East, missing the postseason for the first time since 1965.

Fran Tarkenton, in his 14th year, passed for an
NFC-leading 2598 yards and was chosen to the Pro Bowl as well as being a
second-team All-NFC selection by UPI. Chuck Foreman continued to be productive
both running and catching the ball, with 777 yards on 199 rushing attempts, 586
yards on 53 pass receptions, and a total of 15 touchdowns. He was also a
consensus second-team All-NFL and first-team All-NFC selection and was named to
the Pro Bowl for the second year.

Things ultimately got better for Roger Staubach, but as
it was he still had his poorest season as a starting quarterback. His
completion percentage (52.8), yards per attempt (7.1), and passer rating (68.4)
were all career lows and he threw more interceptions (15) than touchdown passes
(11). But it proved to be an aberration
in his Hall of Fame career; he would never again miss selection to the Pro Bowl
in his five remaining years with the Cowboys.